...Discuss Psychological Explanations of two or more forms of Institutional Aggression (8 +16 marks) Institutional aggression can be defined as aggressive behaviour that occurs within a place of confinement such as prison, and is motivated by social forces, rather than anger or frustration. One psychological explanation of institutional aggression is institutional aggression within groups. This form of aggression can be explained using the importation model which involves interpersonal factors. Research by Irwin and Cressey (1962) suggests that prisoners bring their own social histories and traits with them into prison. This then influences their adaptation to the prison environment. They also argue that prisoners are not simply ‘blank slates’ when they enter prison. Due to this, many of the normative systems developed in the outside world would be ‘imported’ into the prison. Harer and Steffensmeier (2006) offer some research support for the importation model. This particularly applies when evaluating individual factors such as age, education level and race. Their study involved collecting data from 58 US prisons where they found that black inmates had significantly higher rates of violent behaviour. However, these people displayed lower rates of alcohol-related and drug-related misconduct than white inmates. Despite this, there is a problem of sample bias with Harer and Steffensmier’s study. This is because only US prisons took part. This means that the results are not representative...
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...Discuss one or more theories or studies on institutional aggression Institutional aggression refers to violent behaviour that exists within and can define institutions and groups. These institutions include distinct entities such as schools or prisons, or may be larger bodies such as the police or the armed forces. Sometimes the members of these institutions may adopt features of aggressive behaviour such as physical abuse of individuals. There has been a lot of research carried out particularly focusing on aggressive behaviour in prisons, leading to the development of two theories. The first theory is the importation model, proposed by Irwin and cressey. This explanation focuses on the characteristics that prisoners enter the institution with, and claims that those with certain values, attitudes and past experiences are more likely to engage in interpersonal violence than other inmates. The model therefore argues that violent or aggressive behaviour is not a product of the institution itself but rather the characteristics that individuals possess when they enter the institution. Younger inmates are are thought to find it more difficult adjusting to life in prison and are therefore more likely to have confrontations with other inmates and prison staff. They are also likely to view violence as an appropriate response to conflicts. Research evidence supporting this theory includes Harer and Steffensmeier’s study, finding that in US prisons, black inmates were significantly more...
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...least two explanations. 1. The importation model – this explains aggression in prisons. In brief, it says aggression occurs because of characteristics that prisoners bring inside with them. Cheeseman (2003) said that men in prison have a certain way of behaving (probably why they went to prison in the first place!) and they then apply that behaviour to their new institutional setting. Toch (1997) says this: all prisons inherit their subcultural sediments from the street corners that supply them with clients. This suggests that young people can be aggressive both on the street and in prison. Personal and psychological factors that existed in inmates before being incarcerated can affect the level of aggressive behaviour shown in prison. Mills, Kroner and Weekes (1998) studied prisoners admitted to a Canadian prison using the alcohol dependence scale (ADS). Inmates who had higher levels of dependence were associated with more aggression shown in prison. Also, inmates who had greater periods of unemployment, lower levels of education, and a more serious criminal record were more likely to be aggressive in prison (Kane and Janus, 1981). Demographic variables that seem to influence aggression in prisons are race and age. Studies in America have shown that non-whites and younger prisoners are more likely to be aggressive whilst incarcerated. Kane and Janus (1981) say that this is because these groups are more likely to be separated from the mainstream society’s norms which...
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...Discuss Institutional Aggression (24 marks) The deprivation model suggests that the subculture of prison originated within the walls of the constitution. Thus, it is the deprivations that the inmates faced and attempted to cope with that were so extreme that healthy relationships could not be formed with members of the community outside the walls. Gresham Sykes suggested five particular deprivations responsible for inmate aggression, one of which is the Deprivation of Liberty. Deprivation of liberty is when by being imprisoned behind walls, the felon feels as though society no longer consider him to be a person that can live in a respected and trusted manner in the free world. The nature of the institution conveys this loss through symbols such as uniform, and the loss of liberty is further implied by the prisoner having to obtain permission for simple tasks such as eating, sleeping or showering etc. Another deprivation Sykes suggested is the Deprivation of Goods and Services. Prisons confine offenders in poverty-like conditions perceived by the inmates from disadvantaged backgrounds as being worse than the conditions they came from (ie. Lack of home cooked food and cigarettes of preference.) Some inmates felt as though the prison system allows poverty conditions in order to economically regulate and control the inmates, and despite some majority of them accepting responsibility for their conditions, the deprivation of goods and services still brought a sense of failure to the...
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...Is the formation of gangs linked to the strains set out by Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin? Might other explanations explain this phenomenon better? Discuss Theorists have been and for a long time interested in trying to explain why people commit crimes and violence and whether people have the choice and choose to commit crime (Classical theory) or it is in their genes (positivists theory). In 1897 Durkheim in concentrated his efforts to understand society and was investigating social facts. In his book Suicide (1897) Durkheim explained the anomie concept where he outlined the causes of suicide and described a condition or malaise in individuals, characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness. According to Thompson 1984, Durkheim felt that his empirical study of suicide had discovered the structural forces that caused anomie and egoism, and these forces were natural results of the decline of mechanical solidarity and the slow rise of organic solidarity due to the division of labour and industrialism. Also of importance was Durkheim's discovery that these forces affected all social classes. A major figure in the development of Criminal theories is Robert K. Merton. He introduced his social theory of deviance first in 1938 and extended and revised it in 1957. Merton argued that individuals in different social class positions in the social structure do not possess the same opportunity of realizing the shared...
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...you called ugly? He got a serious injury to his face in the war. You see that man that you made fun of for having all those burns? He ran into a burning hospital to save his sick daughter. You see that girl that you called fat? She is starving herself. You see that boy you called stupid? He has Down syndrome. In today’s society, bullying is the most common form of violence. But what is bullying? Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. (http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/index.html) There are many types of bullying in the U.S. such as physical, verbal, indirect bullying, social alienation, intimidation, and cyber bullying. Physical bullying includes any physical contact that would hurt or injure a person like hitting, kicking, punching, etc. Taking something that belongs to someone else and destroying it would also be considered a type of physical bullying. For example, if someone was walking down the street and someone that was a bully pushed you down this would be physical bullying. To me, verbal bullying is the worst form of bullying because I feel as though it leaves a lasting effect on the person whose being bullied and also...
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...identified and assessed whether the person can be treated in the community * To clearly identify those factors which contributed to the offenders criminal behavior * To ensure that an offender is placed at the appropriate institution based on their security and program needs and that the resources are available to them at that institution * To ensure that through the intake process community release potential is considered Offender Intake Assessment Process Herman has been sentenced 7 years in a federal institution Herman will be sent to Millhaven institution for a maximum of 72 day. 1) Herman will be interviewed by a parole officer. 2) Herman’s court, police, probation, forensic, and jail records will all be collected within 30 day of Herman’s arrival. 3) Herman takes part in a Post Community Investigation Interview. In this interview Herman’s 7 need factors with be discussed. 4) A Post Community Assessment Report will be completed on Herman using the information collected (2) and interviews that have taken place (1)(3). 5) During the interview with a parole officer,...
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...reasons are because the Human Psyche governs these four things and such it is within the whims of those who have the powers or are have the power within the society or community to control it. It can be said that culture is equivalent of “any group of humans living or working together over time develops “habitual practices, default programs, hidden assumptions and unreflected cognitive frames” that inform their choices, or indeed they will have created “a repertoire or ‘tool kit’ of habits, skills, and styles from which people construct ‘strategies of action’.” (Lee 2011, pp.3) As such, war can result in a cultures ideology, socioeconomic background and religious beliefs. Most Wars have a main/central or focal point or theme as to why they are being fought, and it is the underlying cultures belief that governs the reason for said wars. (The Holy Wars due to Religion, the Civil War due to political beliefs of freedom and liberty, World War II due to religious and political propaganda). Americas Perception in regards to “Death’s Significance for the Civil war generation arose as well from its violation of prevailing assumptions about life’s proper end-about who should die, when and where, and under what circumstances.” (Faust 2008, pp. xxii) Before the war, dying was due to natural and normal circumstances. Rules of conduct for the dying was practiced (the Good Death), and focused around dying within the comfort of one’s home (a tradition centered on the Good Death), with family...
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...When an individual is caring for children and young people they have a responsibility to make the safety of these people a priority, doing all they can within their power to protect them. There are many different types of abuse that may occur and it is important for care workers to have awareness and knowledge regarding types of maltreatment, risk of maltreatment and indicators of maltreatment in order to take appropriate actions and promote the safety of the child or young person. If someone is to deliberately cause a child physical harm this is physical abuse. Physical abuse may be displayed in the form of hitting, kicking, biting, drowning, suffocating or using items within the environment to cause harm such as throwing objects at the child or by using a match or oven to burn them. There may be many signs and indicators of physical abuse. Children often fall over and bump into objects due to poor awareness and coordination, meaning they may have bruises and cuts on their body. It is important for care workers to keep this in mind and maintain perspective of the situation. However it may be cause for concern when an injury is unexplained, for instance if the child has injuries that the care worker has not been informed about for example if it happened in the morning when a different staff member was on duty and they did not pass along or record this information, or if the child can't seem to properly explain where the injury came from for example by telling the care worker...
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...◾Less-than-average I.Q. ◾Underdeveloped speech and language skills ◾Poor: memory, attention, perception, imagination, thinking, computing and concentration Social characteristics ◾Underdeveloped ability of social adjustment ◾Lack of interests and orientations ◾Irresponsibility ◾Aloofness ◾Aggression ◾Low self-esteem Emotional characteristics ◾Emotional imbalance ◾Excessive movement ◾Evidence of premature or late reactions ◾Primitive reactions Attributes of the intellectually disabled classifications ◾EMR: ◾Provided with the appropriate educational services, certain aspects related to some academic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) could be acquired, besides, possessing social communication skills as well as vocational rehabilitation. ◾TMR: ◾Primary educational programs. ◾Workshop training. ◾Rehabilitation programs. ◾SMR: ◾In constant need of professional and extensive care provided only within the premises of permanent boarding centers. Psychological and behavioral characteristics It's important to know that statements about psychological and behavioral characteristics of the intellectually disabled are based on the research studies, comparing group of persons with and without intellectual disability. Each individual must be considered as a unique and separate person. Learning and memory The most obvious characteristic of the disabled is...
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...The field of social psychology is greatly interested in the study of feelings, thought and actions of people in social setups. Conversely, it also looks at the effects of other people on those feelings, actions and thoughts. It also deals with the behavior of individuals in groups and group behaviors themselves. Social psychology employs a scientific perspective in terms of how people think about others, how they relate with others and how they influence each other. The perception of our own self in relation to the world surrounding us plays a very vital role in the way we make our choices, how we behave in various contexts and the beliefs we hold dearly to ourselves. On the other hand, the opinions we get from others also have an impact on our behavior and the way we view ourselves. Our study of social psychology will better our understanding of the way groups affect how we behave and how our interactions are based on our own social perceptions . Our social behaviors are directed towards achieving certain goals, may it be short term or long term. Some of these goals include the need to maintain social connections, the feeling of gaining a better understanding of ourselves and others, the need to have protection and the wish of establishing companionship with other people. The acting self is divided into two, though both parts work together to achieve a unified totality. There is the legislative branch which is self-identity and the executive branch that constitutes self-entity...
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...Hence, “Chicano Studies” responded to the initial impetus of the community as a sign of power. This power allows generative critical thinking skills to bridge the gap between representation in the past, present, and future. The community is now practicing Freire’s definition of dialogue by “reclaiming this right and preventing the continuation of dehumanizing aggression” (Freire 88). Essentially, dialogue should be rooted in an authentic classroom where the students and teachers learn from one another; therefore, the teacher builds upon the knowledge a student already has and meets the student’s needs. For instance, if a Chicano student wants to learn the history of Aztlan and if it can be proven true or false. In that case, the student would be more engaged in the lecture because it pertains to their history and the teacher would be challenged with proving a theory or correcting the student. This practice of dialogue in a classroom setting is the basis and impetus of “Chicano...
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...discuss issues that are impacting their experience at the University of Denver. In hope that acknowledging these issues that Black and African-American women endure will create a sense of hope and empowerment. This dialogue will identify resource for success and build a safe inviting community among women of color on a predominately white institution. The societal concerns being discuss can bridge the understanding of the oppressed women of color. These women typically face systematic and institutional oppression and discrimination. Infractions, such as these, can play a large role of possible cognitive distortions. This particular retreat can also provide insight on how one may handle traumatic experiences. The infractions may unconsciously cause traumatic stress disorder (post and acute), depression and social phobias. These experiences may also lead to a multitude of mental disorders depending on the severity of the experience....
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...School Environment as Predictors for Physical Aggression in Low-Income Children Xiaoyu Li University of Nebraska-Lincoln, whulucy@gmail.com Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cehsdiss Part of the Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons Li, Xiaoyu, "Family Environment and School Environment as Predictors for Physical Aggression in Low-Income Children" (2012). Open Access Theses and Dissertations from the College of Education and Human Sciences. Paper 164. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cehsdiss/164 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Education and Human Sciences, College of (CEHS) at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Theses and Dissertations from the College of Education and Human Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AS PREDICTORS FOR PHYSICAL AGGRESSION IN LOW-INCOME CHILDREN by Xiaoyu Li A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Major: Child, Youth, & Family Studies Under the Supervision of Professor Soo-Young Hong Lincoln, Nebraska November, 2012 FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AS PREDICTORS FOR PHYSICAL AGGRESSION IN LOW-INCOME CHILDREN Xiaoyu Li, M.S. University...
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...Income inequality has been a prominent theme of this century with advocacy groups putting emphasis on closing the wage gap, while others attempt to lessen the discrimination faced by those who conflict with society’s sexual orientation standards. However, the most important inequality plaguing Canadian cities today is the nation’s systematic mistreatment of Indigenous people, perpetuated by historic...
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